
12
Catriona Gets a Gong
Girlguiding Oxfordshire offered us a
special afternoon tea at Eynsham Hall to
thank us volunteers for all our hard work.
This was such a rare treat that we at 2nd
Botley decided it was time to clear the
diaries and make sure we could all
attend. Eventually the day dawned and
arriving at the venue Brown Owl nearly
got swept into wedding photographs
when a photographer took some
convincing that she wasn’t with the
wedding party. (That would have caused
some puzzlement when leafing through
the photographs later). The rest of us arrived without any tale to tell and
whilst we were waiting to be allowed into our dining room there was a
rolling projection of photographs from the last year’s Girlguiding activities
that have been on offer throughout our county. What a varied programme
has been on offer – both inside and outside activities – something for all.
It was great to catch up with Guiders from all over the county who some
of us have known since we were Guides ourselves and who are probably
the reason why we still do it today.
Having ensured that our departing District Commissioner (our boss),
Catriona, would be in attendance, the District ordered her a lovely vase.
Then, before the tea and awards started we lulled her into a false sense
of security by presenting it to thank her for all her terms of office. Little
did she know that some of us had also been liaising for some months with
the awards committee on her behalf, and so she was completely shocked
when the County Commissioner (her boss) read out the citation for the
Girlguiding Oxfordshire Lozenge badge, followed by her name “in
recognition of her continued outstanding support to Girlguiding especially
in Oxfordshire”. (See photo above.)
The citation ended, “her support extends to enabling young members to
attend special camps and holidays, fundraising to support those less able
to afford them” which reminds me that as a parting gift she planned, and
then handed over to her successor, the Summer Fete on Saturday, 15th
June at Louie Memorial Playing Fields to raise funds for a December
residential for all Rainbows, Brownies and Guides who attend Girlguiding
in the local parishes. Lucy Howes